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    Irrfan Khan laid to rest in Mumbai; SRK pays tribute to 'friend, inspiration', Homi Adjania pens emotional note

    Synopsis

    One of the country's finest actors, Khan passed away at the age of 53.

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    Loved for his performances in Bollywood films like 'Haider', 'Hindi Medium' and 'Piku' among others, the actor also enjoyed crossover-success with roles in 'Life of Pi', 'The Namesake', 'Jurassic World' and 'Inferno'.
    Irrfan Khan, the award-winning actor who enjoyed critical acclaim and fame not just in India but overseas as well, passed away after a long battle with a rare form of cancer. The 54-year-old 'Maqbool' star, who was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in 2018, had been admitted to the intensive care unit of Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital with a colon infection, earlier this week.

    Loved for his performances in Bollywood films like 'Haider', 'Hindi Medium' and 'Piku' among others, the actor had also carved a niche for himself on international shores, enjoying crossover-success with roles in 'Life of Pi', 'The Namesake', 'Jurassic World' and 'Inferno'.

    The National Award winner was laid to rest at Mumbai's Versova burial ground.

    "Irrfan was buried at the Versova kabrastan in Mumbai at 3 pm this afternoon soon after the news of his passing away was announced. In presence were his family, close relatives and friends. Everyone paid their final respects and mourned the loss of his passing away. We pray for his peace and we hope he's in a better place today. He was strong in his fight, and we all have to be strong too in this loss," an official statement from his spokesperson said, according to news agency ANI.

    Having made his debut with Mira Nair's 1988 film 'Salaam Bombay', Khan was a beloved member of the fraternity and social media was flooded with tributes for the actor, as fans and colleagues had to stay indoors due to the country's ongoing lockdown.

    Shah Rukh Khan paid tribute to his "friend...inspiration & the greatest actor of our times."


    Amitabh Bachchan, who starred with Khan in the critically-acclaimed 'Piku', remembered him as an "incredible talent .. a gracious colleague .. a prolific contributor to the World of Cinema", saying he "left us too soon .. creating a huge vacuum."


    Film-maker Shoojit Sircar remembered his dear friend in an emotional note on the micro-blogging site, "My dear friend Irfaan. You fought and fought and fought. I will always be proud of you.. we shall meet again.. condolences to Sutapa and Babil.. you too fought, Sutapa you gave everything possible in this fight. Peace and Om shanti. Irfaan Khan salute."


    Homi Adjania, the director of Khan's last film 'Angrezi Medium' penned an emotion tribute to the star, alongside a picture of them.

    "We laughed about you dying... in fact we often abused your “uninvited guests” .... but I didn’t think I’d feel so fuckin broken when I heard what I was expecting to hear for a while now. I am eternally grateful for walking a few steps of your journey with you. I am eternally grateful that I could call myself your friend. I am eternally grateful for memories stuffed with so much joy, so much laughter in such little time. You once told me how you had an inexplicable love for your craft, but didn’t want the stardom anymore. Well, you never needed to be a star my friend, because you shone brighter than anything in the universe," Adjania wrote on Instagram.


    Khan's 'Mumbai Meri Jaan' co-star Paresh Rawal in a tweet, said, "There shall never be one like you."


    Javed Akhtar said Khan's "death is untimely in the real sense of the word" and said as "an actor he was a voice not some one’s echo."


    Actor-and-politician Kamal Haasan said Khan's work left him in awe, in a tribute on Twitter, "Too soon to leave @irrfank Ji. Your work always left me in awe. You're one of the finest actors I know, I wish you stayed longer. You deserved more time. Strength to the family at this time."


    Actress Anushka Sharma and her cricketer husband Virat Kohli also paid tribute to the actor.


    Taapsee Pannu tweeted a heartfelt message, saying, "When we thought nothing could make us feel worse,this happened. I think I will refuse to believe you are no more by watching all your work time n again n again n again. I have known you that way n shall continue to know you that way for ever. You ARE the best we have #IrrfanKhan"


    Dino Morea, who worked with Khan in 'Acid Factory' and 'Gunaah' offered condolences and said he learnt from the actor.


    Home Minister Amit Shah described the 'Paan Singh Tomar' star as "an asset to our film industry", tweeting, "In him, the nation has lost an exceptional actor and a kind soul. My condolences to his family and followers."


    Hollywood film-maker Colin Trevorrow, who directed Khan in 'Jurassic World', also joined the world in expressing grief over the loss.



    Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and boxer Vijender Singh also took to Twitter to pay tribute to the star.




    Khan is survived by wife Sutapa and sons Babil and Ayan.


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